Gardening/Landscaping question

[VeeDubb]

Okay oil experts, I have a non-oil related question.

We just bought a new house which was professionally landscaped. However, I noticed that some of the plant beds that push up against the foundation has a negative grade against the foundation. Just wondering if this is something I need to sweat. I would think having a negative grade would be harmful in the long run since it would trap water near the foundation. But then again, it was "professionally" done so should I assume that the landscapers know something that I don't? Also, it is a newer house so there is probably a sump pump which helps drain the water away from the foundation below the ground.

So should I leave it alone or reshape the beds so that they slope away from the block? I'm sort of an amateur at landscaping so I'm really hoping to avoid having to do reshape the beds if I can help it.

Any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appeciated. Thanks!

 

[Pablo]

The more slope away, the better.
Don't rely on a sump pump.

I doubt that many professional landscapers care about your foundation leaking moisture...just my opinion.

 

[VeeDubb]

Thanks everybody for your advice. Honest and direct was what I was looking for. I'll be doing some landscaping in the month or so.

BTW, the previous owners did put some type of waterproofing treatment on the block. It looks like a yellowish clear coat. It looks like they may have anticipated a lot of moisture aroudn the foundation. Either that or they did it when they finished the basement to guard against water leakage.


Jakebrake
The soil is not sandy, but it is pretty loose. Unfortunately, we haven't moved in yet so I can't tell you exactly what it is. I recall it was very dark and loose.
The foundation is a "block" foundation according to the specs. Don't know if that falls under either the slab or raise subfloor categories you talked about.

Tweeker
I don't remember how far out the downspouts go. When I move in in a couple of weeks, I'll definitely check them out. Thanks for the advice.

 

[labman]

Remember the guys at Iffy Lube are professionals and maybe better paid. In their favor, they may have been given the job before the dirt settled around the foundation. I know code calls for 8'' of foundation above grade and I think calls for it to slope away from the house. If I had paid the landscapers, I would be on the phone in the morning. I have done landscaping, and drainage is a big problem. That negative slope must be fixed. Be careful moving dirt, phone and cable may only be inches under the ground. Code calls for electric to be down 4'.

 

[Al]

You need to slope away from the house-no exceptions.

 

[Jakebrake]

You should have at least a 2% slope away from the home to aid in draining water away from the surface of the lawn or shrub beds against the house. Water that pockets against the foundation and footings is not what you want to have. Type of soil is also to be considered. Is it sandy, or does it have a lot of clay? What type of foundation ? is it a slab or do you have a raised subfloor? Make sure you have good ventilation if you have a raised subfloor.

[ March 31, 2004, 12:35 PM: Message edited by: Jakebrake ]

 

[Jimbo]

Fix it now. My sister's house ended up with major foundation damage and cracked walls because the landscaper screwed up the lot drainage.

 

[tweeker43]

how far out do your downspouts go? do they run in the direction of the grade, or perpendicular to it? do your downspouts go into crocks?

if you can direct the water from your gutters away from the grade, that should help quite a bit.

i would look at "regrading" a bit, away from the house.

our new landscaping has the downspouts running into crocks, which are away from the house (perpendicular to the grade). this has virtually eliminated some of the standing water problems i had in my back yard.

 

[VeeDubb]

quote:

---

Originally posted by labman:
Remember the guys at Iffy Lube are professionals and maybe better paid. In their favor, they may have been given the job before the dirt settled around the foundation. I know code calls for 8'' of foundation above grade and I think calls for it to slope away from the house. If I had paid the landscapers, I would be on the phone in the morning. I have done landscaping, and drainage is a big problem. That negative slope must be fixed. Be careful moving dirt, phone and cable may only be inches under the ground. Code calls for electric to be down 4'.

---

Thanks for the specs, Labman. The landscaping was done under the previous owners a couple of years ago so I probably won't be able to have them come out and fix it. But you raise some good points and I may just hire somebody else to come and fix it so that I don't damage anything. You have any tips on how to hire a good landscaper to fix a problem like this?
Thanks